When Your Child Is Terrified of Santa

Melissa Willets

About the Author

Melissa Willets is a mom of three girls, one of whom is a newborn. She writes about pregnancy, parenting, home, health, and beauty. She loves running and drinking red wine - but never simultaneously.

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When your child is terrified of Santa, Christmas is not just the most wonderful time of the year — it's a scary and stressful time, too.

Many kids see a picture of Old Saint Nick and smile. My three-year-old screams. While I find Mr. Claus' wink adorable, she recoils in horror. To most kids, the guy in the red suit seems jolly. But my preschooler must see Chucky where others find a comforting symbol of holiday joy.

Of course, when you think about it, my daughter's fear of Santa makes perfect sense. For weeks my husband and I told her that Santa's always watching, that he can see what she is doing at any time. Furthermore, we explained that on Christmas, he won't enter our house through our front door like everyone else. Instead, he will pop down our chimney and move about as he pleases.

Okay, terrifying, I get it. But how are we supposed to get through the Christmas season when our little one thinks Santa is out to get her?

Given her extreme fear, we have had to adopt some coping mechanisms to help.

He won't see her when she's sleeping. We used to remind our daughter that Santa was watching when she acted naughty. But she'd react like this: "Ahh! Is he looking through the window? Help, Mommy!" Now we email reports about her behavior to Santa. When she won't share with her older sister, I pull out my phone and ask, "Do you want me to update Santa?"

There's no such thing as "Bad Santa." We constantly reinforce that the guy in the red suit is good, not bad. I'll say things like, "He helps people" and "He loves kids." When your child is terrified of Santa it's important she knows there's nothing to be afraid of.

Santa Claus is coming to town...but only on Christmas Eve. When our daughter's fear of Santa came to light, I realized she thought that he could pop down our chimney any old night he felt like it. We've had to assure her that he doesn't hang out on the roof every evening. "He is not allowed to visit people's homes until the night before Christmas."

Santa baby...don't hurry down the chimney tonight. My husband even promised our daughter he would meet Santa at the front door to get the gifts if she really didn't want him coming down the chimney. I guess I'll make sure the old guy gets a cookie and a sip of milk before getting back on his sleigh.

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